Improvement in car-couplings



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIGE,

NATHANIEL M. HETZLER, OF OTTA/VA, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. 149,220, dated March 3l, lc`74; application filed May 31, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, NATHANIEL M. HETZ- LER, of Ottawa, in the county of Franklin and State of Kansas, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Oar-Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this speciiication, and to the letters and Jfigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of my improved car-coupling by a longitudinal central section. Figs. 2 and 3 are end views of the same. Fig. et isa top view of one of the parts.

My invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists in the lifting devices for lifting and righting the coupling-link of a railroad-car.

The object of my invention is to do away with the direct manipulation of coupling links and pins, and interpose a leverage movement, to be operated either from the platform of the car or from the side of it, instead of the ordinary manner, between the cars, thereby avoiding all personal danger of the operator, such as crushed limbs or death by crushing.

In the drawings, A represents the platform of a ear, to which a coupling-head, B, of ordinary construction is fastened, in the ordinary manner, as is also the drop or coupling pin C. A standard, D, is fastened to the end oftheplatform, on the horizontal arm of which a lever, E, is fastened, one end of it, e, having a link, F, with two straddling rods, j', connected to it. The rods f are connected with alit'tin gto give way or play before it is coupled by the other pin. The other pin Gis inserted into an opening, j, inthe jaws of a pair of pinehers,

J, and held there suspended by aid of a spring, j, until the link I has entered the corresponding coupling-head B sufficiently to be secured by the pin. The operator, by pressing the arms of the pinehers J together, liberates the pin C from its hold, and it drops into the hole in the coupling-head B, thereby securing the link I and coupling the respective cars.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is-

lhe coupling-link-lifting device, consisting of the standard D, the lever E, the link F, the straddling rods f, the gniderodH, the bearings h, the bar G, and the .nuts g, allcombined substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL M. HETZLER.

Titnesses J AMES HANWAY, JAMES A. AMBRosE. 

